Labor Quality Mismatching Management in Thai Industry
Keywords:
Quality Mismatch, University-Firm Cooperation, ThailandAbstract
This paper examines approaches that have been used to mitigate skill gaps, using engineering skill as a case study. Five approaches are covered, including government-led cooperation between universitiees and firms in a cluster manner, informal arrangements between universities and firms, and both public and private education. The key finding is that while various approaches used elsewhere in the world were introduced here, there has not been any systematic analysis of their performance and their complementary role when interacting with each other. Each approach seems to fit certain industries and faces its own challenges. It is unlikely that policymakers will be able to design and successfully implement a single perfect approach. A learning-by-doing process is needed. Without considering the local context, simply duplicating best practices from elsewhere does not ensure success. The papers’ main policy inference is that it would be risky to adopt a one-size-fits-all approach to mitigating quality mismatching. A potentially successful strategy must be both adaptable and flexible.
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